ESCANABA — Outstanding Persons in Education (OPIE) awards were given to 19 area teachers (EA members) and support professionals (ESP members) at a banquet on Thursday, May 11 at the Highland Golf Club.
This event, co-sponsored by the Michigan Education Association 17B Coordinating Council, MESSA and MEA Financial Services, honors outstanding individuals in their profession as chosen by their peers.
This year’s winners included paraprofessionals, bus drivers, school psychologists, library aides, classroom teachers, school social workers, and instructional aides. The OPIE awards, a celebration by and for union members, are held annually and are in their 21st year. The 2023 honorees are:
Anne Madalinski, Bark River-Harris EA
Jeanette Peltier, Bark River-Harris ESP
Troy Gallagher, Bay College Faculty Association
Alex Ranguette, Big Bay de Noc EA
Rebecca Tatrow, Big Bay de Noc ESP
Rachel Coyne, Delta-Schoolcraft ISD EA
Tracy Bourdeau, Delta-Schoolcraft ISD ESP
Michelle Dykema, Escanaba EA
Jenny Bourdeau, Escanaba ESP
Becky Quinn, Gladstone EA
Robin Schwartz, Gladstone EA
Allison O’Brien, Manistique EA
Kimberly Saffer, Manistique ESP
Kimberley Wygant, Menominee ISD EA
Sue Blake, Menominee City EA
Matthew Stein, North Central EA
Shelby Hardwick, Rapid River EA
Amanda LaFave, Stephenson EA
Amber Berger, Stephenson EA
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